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Michigan Becomes First Midwest State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Rafael Nash |Thursday, November 08, 2018

Michigan Voters Legalize Marijuana

Aside from electing political candidates, citizens in six states states had measures related to the legalization of cannabis.

Before Tuesday's vote, 22 American states had adopted comprehensive medical marijuana programs.

Washington State approved one of the toughest gun safety laws in the nation with a measure that increases the age limit to buy an assault rifle from 18 to 21 and imposes a 10-day waiting period for purchases.

In Michigan, the Proposal 1 legalization initiative was winning with 55.8 percent of the vote, with 96 percent of the vote counted as of Wednesday morning.

In Utah and Missouri, voters on Tuesday decided that patients should have access to medical marijuana.

MI voters were asked to give their opinion on Proposal 1, which would fully legalize marijuana in the state.

In Missouri, a state constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of medical cannabis was leading 61 percent to 38 percent in early returns, according to the secretary of state's office.

Utah voters also gave the nod to medical marijuana.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is widely expected to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, introduced a bipartisan bill in August that would amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow cannabis companies in states where marijuana is legal to open accounts at federally regulated financial institutions and remain exempt from federal persecution.

MI is also one of two states, the other being Alaska, where households are allowed to grow 12 marijuana plants. The only loss for weed came in North Dakota, where voters approved medical marijuana two years ago but weren't ready to take the next step this year.

MI voters approved Proposal 1 Tuesday, which legalizes adult recreational marijuana use in the state, but sales may not begin until 2020.

MI has become the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana. Heidi Heitkamp (D) was strong enough to overwhelm the Measure 3 legalization initiative.

Kristin Schrader, 51, a Democrat from Superior Township in Washtenaw County, said she voted to legalize marijuana because she doesn't want people leaving MI to get it.